Improvement in steam-traps



E. STEELE.

STEAM-TRAPS. No.183,340.

(WARM-A r ILFETEHS. FHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. n c.

Patented Oct. 17, 1876.

PATENT QFFroE.

FERDINAND STEELE, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM-TRAPS.

Specification forming part of 'Letters Patent No. 183,340, dated October 17, 1876; application filed August 28, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FERDINAND STEELE, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State'of New York, have invented an Improvement in Steam-Traps, of which the following is a specification:

Steam-traps have been made with an expansion rod to operate a valve, and alarms and air-valve have been similarly actuated. In these cases the valve closes against a seat, and is opened by being withdrawn therefrom. In these instances the parts are liable to become injured by unusual heat acting upon the expansion-rod, and pressing the valve unduly to the seat, and thereby deranging the position or adjustment of the parts.

My invention relates to a slide-valve combined with a lever and expansion-rod, and arranged in such a manner that the valve is free to move even after the maximum or minimum temperatures of the expansion-rod are arrived at, thereby preventing injury to any of the parts.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a vertical section of the apparatus, and Fig. 2 is a sectional plan at the line 00 a7.

The water of condensation from a radiatorcoil or condenser is allowed to run into the tube a by the inlet 1). Connected with this pipe (1 is a pipe, 0, preferably at right angles to a, and a valve-seat, cl, and valve 6 are provided at the outlet water-way or pipe f. In the tube 0 is a lever, h, connected by a balljoint and spring with the valve 0. This lever his upon a fulcrum, c, and the short end is connected to the copper rodor tube 1, that is within the pipe at, the opposite end of which rod isadjustably secured in the socket-plug m.

When Water fills the tubes at and 0 the temperature of the rod llessens, and its length contracts, so that the valve 0 is moved aside upon its seat sufficiently to open the Waterway and allow the Water to escape, and as steam reaches the copper rod lit is expanded by the heat, and the lever h moves the valve 0 to'close it again.

By this construction the apparatus is made automatic.

A plug should be introduced at n, contiguous to the valve, to give access for cleaning the valve-chamber; and also a branch pipe and cook, 0, are provided for blowing off sediment when necessary. I An air-cock is to be provided at It is preferable to make the socket-plug m with an external and internal screw-thread, and one thread with a larger pitch than the other, so that the adjustment will be-slow and easily effected by revolving the said screw socket-plug, and thereby positioningthe valve so as to open and close at the proper temperatures.

The lock-nut p prevents the socket-plug turning accidentally. The cap 10 serves to make a tight cover, and prevent the socketplug m being moved. A cock, 1 is introduced in the cap w, for emptying'the cap when necessary. I

The valve-seat is introduced from outside, so that it and the valve can be removed for grinding.

I am aware that in a steam-trap there has been an expansion-tube, with a valve at one end and an adjustable screw-socket at the other end; but the tube and socket revolved together. In my trap the expansion-rod does not revolve, but the socket is revolved around the rod and Within the coupling, and the adjustment is effected by the difference in the screw-threads.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, with an expansion-rod, of a'lever and slide-valve and the inclosingtubes, forming a steam-trap, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the valve and expansion-rod in a steam-trap, of the screw socket-plug, for holding and adjusting the stationary end of the rod, such socket-plug having threads of diiferent pitch upon the outside and inside, respectively, for the purposes and as set forth.

3. In a steam-trap, the combination of a slide-valve, lever, and expansion rod or tube, and a removable seat for the valve, substantially as set forth.

Signed by me this 22d day of August, A.

' F. STEELE.

Witnesses:

GEO. T. PINGKNEY, HAROLD SEEEELL. 

